FORT HOOD, Texas (ASBP, January 20, 2010) - On Thursday, January 20, 2010, the Robertson Blood Center held the annual Blood Donor Recognition Ceremony, honoring dozens of top donors, organizations, and supporters on Fort Hood. January is National Blood Donor Month and ceremonies are held each year to recognize the efforts of those whose donations mean that troops and their families have the supply of blood they need.

The theme for this year's ceremony was "The Power of Blood Donors," in line with the Armed Services Blood Program's campaign for the year, "The Power of Blood". Lt. Col. Dennis Dombrowski, Robertson Blood Center's director said "Although a lot of hard work, testing, and scientific processing goes on behind the scenes, the bottom line is that without our great donors, there is no blood program. They are truly the power of this important mission."

In attendance at the ceremony was the first blood bank officer from Fort Hood, Col. (retired) Tony Polk. In 1975, while assigned to the laboratory at then Darnall Army Community Hospital, he opened the first Fort Hood blood bank in an old theater. Today, he is the Armed Services Blood Program Officer emeritus and holds the first gold medal Lifetime Achievement Award from the ASBP.

The guest speaker was Dr. Charles Clark, from Waco, Texas. A practicing dentist and oral and maxillofacial surgeon, he served in Iraq on a facial trauma team and was detailed to treat Saddam Hussein after his capture. Doctor Clark served as the staff surgeon at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, training residents in oral and maxillofacial surgery. An expert in all aspects of reconstructive and cosmetic repair of facial injuries, Clark is also a nationally known speaker and teacher of these techniques.

Five blood donors were honored for having the most donations and returning in the most consistent fashion. They were Mr. Ronald Decker, Major (retired) Prosper Walker, Colonel Joan Vanderlaan, Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Dombrowski, and Lieutenant Misty Youngblood. They were presented with plaques and the new ASBP coins.

Military units and organizations sponsoring blood drives or encouraging Soldiers to donate were honored as well. 13th Sustainment Brigade (Expeditionary) was honored as the top large unit on Fort Hood. III Corps' headquarters unit - the Phantom Command - earned the award for the top medium sized unit. Also recognized was their unit blood coordinator - Spc. Luke House. The 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment was awarded for being the best small unit on Fort Hood. The Horse Detachment is notable in that they are the only unit on Fort Hood that has recorded more blood donations in a year than their assigned strength. Key to this achievement was the involvement of their leaders, including the detachment first sergeant, Sgt. First Class Filiberto Fernandez, who was recognized for donating blood five times in the past year.

A number of pins and certificates were awarded to donors who crossed the threshold of a gallon or more donated. The center's director, Lt. Col. Dennis Dombrowski, explained that these numbers are calculated from the registration software at the blood center. "We really encourage people to sign up at www.militaryblood.dod.mil and then each military recruiter can track their donations all across the system. We appreciate and really want to recognize each of these valuable donors."

Also in attendance was Mrs. Luann Zipp, Fort Hood's own Mrs. Killeen International for 2010. The wife of a deployed Soldier, Mrs. Zipp serves as an FRG Leader for 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation and competed on the basis of her campaign to reduce divorce in military families.

The ceremony was followed by a social hour and hors d'oeuvres were served. To find out more about the ASBP or to arrange a military blood drive, visit their official web page at www.militaryblood.dod.mil. A full list of the awardees and honorees follows.